Simran sipped the last of her salted caramel ice capp, adrenaline rushing through her veins in all of its caffeinated glory. That'd knock down her sleep schedule by a couple more hours. It was totally worth spending time with her friends though. Simran figured they had about ten minutes left before the Tim Hortons employees kicked out the girls from occupying a significant portion of the dining booth.

While Krushi was telling another hilarious story, Simran turned to Parvati. "Feeling any better?"

Parvati mixed the whipped cream evenly into her drink. "Yeah."

It hurt to see her friend so heartbroken over guys that barely cared about her. Harsh words but it puzzled Simran how Parvati could get attached to random people so fast. She felt slighted that Parvati would go to extreme lengths and gush over her new date while not noticing the people closest to her.

No, that was Simran's jealousy speaking. She knew Parvati loved her friends, and thanks to family problems, she knew how important, and how rare it was to feel love.

"Has anyone broken your heart?" Parvati asked suddenly.

Simran yawned. Gosh darn it, the ice capp wasn't enough to keep her going. They'd already been skating for quite some time though, and after a while it got boring. "Why do you ask?"

"You're avoiding my question," Parvati said shyly. "I want to know because you always keep a level head. What do you do when something like this happens?"

Simran glanced out the window to the outdoor ice rink. Nothing like a bunch of couples skating around to make you feel envious.

"The faster you fall in love, the harder you crash. I guess I never experience love that way, so when it does turn sour, I'm not as bothered by it," Simran said. It came so easily. After all, Parvati wore her heart on her sleeve, but Simran had to hide this part of herself.

"You're so mature!" she exclaimed with awe.

Did mature count as being tongue-tied?

Parvati was right there.

Come on, Simran. Open your mouth and admit it!

Once upon a time, Simran thought she'd hold onto her feelings for an eternity. If that was what it took to preserve the bond they already had. But the longer she kept quiet, the more she loathed being some kind of silent martyr. For what? So both of them could do their separate dances, oblivious to one another?

Simran watched her crush/best friend give a nearly imperceptible sigh. She wouldn't ask tonight. Tonight, Parvati needed her friends. Afterward...she'd see.

Parvati raised an eyebrow. "You really want me to teach you, huh? How to do that figure eight?"

Simran remembered her initial request. "Oh, yes please! You're so graceful on the ice."

"Okay, great timing! I think that employee is eyeing us. Let's go!"

The group of girls giggled their way out of the restaurant and into the night.

NefertitiFenison requested this a sequel to "Figure 8," I tried to mirror the title here. 8, sideways, can be interpreted as the infinity symbol.